# game-design-theory

A skill that gives your coding agent a reference on game design theory: MDA, player psychology, rewards and balance. Useful when a game stops holding attention.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 2500 installs · ★ 45
- Author: pluginagentmarketplace
- License: LicenseRef-Proprietary · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer/tree/HEAD/skills/game-design-theory/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-01-05
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/game-design-theory

## What it does

The skill hands the agent a reference on game design theory. The core is the MDA framework: mechanics produce dynamics, dynamics produce emotional response. Alongside it sit Csikszentmihalyi's flow channel between boredom and anxiety, Bartle's player types, and the three motivation drivers from self-determination theory.

Separate sections cover rewards and balance. Rewards split into intrinsic and extrinsic, with four scheduling patterns described. Balance is broken down by axis: mechanical, economic, difficulty, competitive. A troubleshooting block walks through common failures — players bored, players quitting, one strategy dominating everything.

The skill takes two optional parameters: `framework` (`mda`, `bartle`, `flow`, `reward_systems`) and `game_type` (`action`, `rpg`, `puzzle`, `strategy`, `casual`, `simulation`). It is bonded to the `01-game-designer` subagent, so pairing the two gives tighter output. The license is proprietary, which is worth checking before you drop it into a commercial project.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer --skill game-design-theory -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/game-design-theory/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/game-design-theory/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer --skill game-design-theory -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/game-design-theory/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer --skill game-design-theory -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/game-design-theory/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer game-design-theory
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/game-design-theory/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer --skill game-design-theory -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer --path skills/game-design-theory
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/game-design-theory/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer --skill game-design-theory -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer/tree/HEAD/skills/game-design-theory/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- work out why players get bored mid-level
- line up the difficulty curve with player skill growth
- pick a reward type that fits a specific audience
- spot a dominant strategy and remove it
- state the emotional goal of a level before building it

## Example prompts
- Break down my jump mechanic through MDA: what does it give at the dynamics and aesthetics level?
- Players quit at level three — check the flow channel and tell me where it breaks
- Design a reward schedule for a casual game, framework reward_systems

## Similar
- [design-game-encounters](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/design-game-encounters.md) — skill · 1300 installs
- [game-ui-design](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/game-ui-design.md) — skill · 3900 installs
- [roblox-game-design](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/roblox-game-design.md) — skill · 1300 installs
- [game-design-document](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/game-design-document.md) — skill · 1100 installs
- [game-designer](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/game-designer.md) — skill · 1900 installs
- [game-design-core](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/game-design-core.md) — skill · 533 installs

From the same set: [pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/by/pluginagentmarketplace/custom-plugin-game-developer.md) — 2 cards

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md